Laadla (1994 film)

Laadla
Laadla
	Release poster
Directed by	Raj Kanwar
Screenplay by	Anees Bazmee
Based on	Anuraga Aralithu
Produced by	Nitin Manmohan
Starring	Sridevi; Anil Kapoor;
Cinematography	Harmeet Singh
Edited by	A. Muthu
Music by	Anand–Milind
Release date	25 March 1994;
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	₹2.50 crore (equivalent to ₹16 crore or US$2.1 million in 2023)
Box office	₹13.43 crore (equivalent to ₹88 crore or US$11 million in 2023)

Laadla (transl. Beloved Son) is a 1994 Indian

drama film directed by Raj Kanwar, based on a screenplay written by Anees Bazmee. The film stars Sridevi and Anil Kapoor while Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher, Farida Jalal, Shakti Kapoor, Prem Chopra, Aruna Irani, Mohnish Bahl and Paresh Rawal

play supporting roles.

The film initially starred

Kannada film Anuraga Aralithu (1986).^[2]

In the film, a headstrong factory owner marries the union leader of the factory, to quell his spirit and teach him a lesson. In the process, she ends up learning a few lessons herself.

Laadla was released theatrically on 25 March 1994 and became one of the highest-grossing films of the year.^[3] Sridevi's performance in a negative role as Sheetal Jaitley was widely acclaimed and earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, while Tandon's performance fetched her a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Plot

Raj "Raju" Verma lives with his disabled and paralyzed mother Gayatri. Before a job interview, he saves

textile mill

owner Laxminarayan Jetley who offers him job in his factory run by his ambitious adopted daughter, Sheetal. Her competitive attitude and open insults result in several enemies including her henchman Tilak, whom she often slaps and insults.

As a mechanic, Raju confronts her several times for proper treatment of workers. She is enraged when he turns union leader. Raju falls for the mill's modest worker Kajal. Suryadev, a competing owner tries to eliminate Sheetal. Charismatic, Raju guides her on how to handle rival and the workers. Egoistic and angered, Sheetal slaps him who retaliates this reaching her cabin and slaps her too.

Sheetal cannot fire Raju as then she would have to admit. Vengeful, she convinces Gayatri to get her married to Raju. Reluctantly on Gayatri's order, Raju sacrifices his love for Kajal and marries Sheetal. He lives in his own house and works as a mechanic but moves to Sheetal's luxurious house later upon Gayatri's request. Slowly, he falls in love with Sheetal.

Tensions arise when Sheetal eliminates Kajal, seeing her visiting Raju's house frequently. Kajal turns caretaker of Gayatri. Later, labour issues cause the workers to go on strike. Competing mill owner for benefit of this hires people to set it on fire. Raju is mistakenly arrested. Gayatri visits Sheetal's house to clarify matters.

Insulted and taunted, she collapses but Raju saves her and slaps Sheetal. Guilty, Sheetal who has now feelings for Raju too is kidnapped by Suryadev. Luckily, Raju rescues her. Sheetal improves herself. Kajal turns managing director of her company, as Sheetal quits her job. Everyone live happily ever after.

Cast

Sridevi as Sheetal Jetley Verma
Anil Kapoor as Raj "Raju" Verma
Raveena Tandon as Kajal Bansal
Farida Jalal as Gayatri Verma
Aruna Irani as Banobi Jetley
Anupam Kher as Laxmi Narayan Jetley
Prem Chopra as Suryadev Bajaj
Paresh Rawal as Hiravat Bajaj
Mohnish Behl
as Vikram "Vicky" Bajaj
Shakti Kapoor as Tilak Bhandari
Alok Nath as Swaraaj Bansal
Kalpana Iyer as Kamini Shastra
Arun Bakshi as Mehtu
Javed Khan Amrohi Loyal worker in the factory
Ravi Baswani Loyal worker in the factory
Lalit Tiwari as Advocate Devdas Shukla
Vikram Gokhale as Doctor
item song
Ghanashyam Nayak as Gate Watchman

Production

Divya Bharti was originally cast in the role of Sheetal and filmed most of her role, but due to her sudden death on 5 April 1993, she could not complete the film. Later, Sridevi was signed to play the role.^[4]

Soundtrack

Producer Nitin Manmohan repeated music directors Anand–Milind and lyricist Sameer after hits like

Baaghi, Maha Sangram, Adharm and Bol Radha Bol. The music topped the charts when released. It was among the best selling albums of 1994.^[5]

#	Title	Singer(s)
1	"Ladki Hai Kya Re Baba"	Udit Narayan
2	"Teri Ungli Pakad Ke Chala"	Udit Narayan, Jyotsna Hardikar
3	"Meri Dhadkan Suno"	Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik
4	"Mere Ghulam Tera"	Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan
5	"Mere Ghulam Tera" (Female)	Alka Yagnik
6	"Dhik Ta Na Na"	Udit Narayan, Poornima
7	"Dhik Ta Na Na" (Female)	Poornima
8	"Boi Boi"	Vinod Rathod, Arun Bakshi